Ireland enters top 10 countries for road safety
A report on road fatalities across Europe in 2007 by the European Transport Safety Council revealed that Ireland is now ranked 9th out of 25 EU member states — up from 16th position in 2005.
The council’s study also identified Ireland as the second most improved country in terms of reducing road deaths over the past two years. Last year’s total of 338 deaths on Irish roads was the second-lowest figure in more than 40 years, and a drop of 8% on 2006 figures.
However, the Road Safety Authority said there was still cause for concern about the driving behaviour of Irish motorists, despite such a good recent performance in reducing road deaths.
RSA chief executive Noel Brett said the biggest challenge facing drivers was the high incidence of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and motorcyclists, who were killed in collisions. They account for 60% of all road deaths, he revealed.
However, Mr Brett said there was still plenty of room for improvement if Ireland was to meet the official EU target of reducing all road fatalities by 50% by 2010 — a figure which equates to just 252 road deaths in the Republic per year.
“It’s a tall order but it can be done,” said Mr Brett.
He said the authorities also needed to consider additional road safety measures, such as the introduction of alcolocks and court-based rehabilitation schemes, for drink drivers.
European Transport Safety Council spokeswoman Graziella Jost said the organisation’s recommendations for improvements in Ireland’s road safety would be lowering the blood-alcohol limit and the introduction of a speed camera network.
“Ireland’s outstanding achievement is encouraging for road safety organisations all over Europe,” she added, praising the introduction of penalty points and mandatory breath testing for help in reducing Irish road fatalities.
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said the deaths of 88 people on the roads so far in 2008 was a reminder that “there’s a lot done but more to do”.
Mr Dempsey said he would bring the official recommendation of the RSA on lowering the current drink-driving limit to Cabinet before Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern steps down from office.
However, Mr Dempsey said it remained possible that the Government would not make an immediate decision on the issue as it might require further consideration and research.
The Government’s road safety strategy contains a commitment to lower the current level of 80mg alcohol per 100ml of blood by summer 2009.
It is widely believed that the RSA has recommended a general level of 50mg alcohol per blood to bring Ireland into line with the official legal limit in most other EU countries.
Both Mr Dempsey and the RSA refused to comment on whether it is making a special recommendation for a level of 20mg alcohol per 100ml for novice and commercial drivers — a key recommendation of the counsil.
